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Leadem, Christopher

"The Mantooth"

I hoped my eyes were
playing tricks on me, and I didn't see or hear anything else for a
while. But some kind of other sense told me I was in danger, and that
whatever it was I had seen was coming closer. I got so scared I ran to
the bed and hid beneath the furs, as if that was any protection, and
found myself shaking like a leaf.
'I couldn't just lie there, and when I realized how stupid and
helpless I was being, I got angry. So I decided to go into the back and
dig out some kind of weapon. It may have been my one real moment of
courage.'
'There have been others,' he said quietly. She turned towards
him, and wondered why these simple words meant so much. 'Go on.'
'All right. I went into the back and found the hunting knife. I was
so determined and angry that for about thirty seconds I forgot to be
afraid. It was a wonderful, defiant feeling.'
'Yes.'
'Unfortunately it didn't last. I walked back into the front to
find a big, gaunt wolf staring me down, bristling and snarling. It was
Akar, but he didn't look at all the way he does now. His ribs
practically stuck through his skin with hunger. His side was gashed and
caked with mud and dried blood..... It was horrible.
'I screamed and practically threw the knife across the floor. I just
couldn't take it.


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